Lessons Learned

Job done. It was a great trip. It is hard to describe concisely. Here is my learned lessons, for posterity, before I forget: - Take a small, light, folding stool. For next to your tent, putting on boots etc. - Warm clothes were not needed on our trek, and everyone took too many warm clothes. - Take an inflatable air mattress. Sleeping on the deck was hard after so much hard walking. - Take the time to setup your pack properly, should be weight on your hips, NOT on your shoulders. - The trek is long and hard, but the intensity is low. Train on stairs (up and down), there are many roots in the jungle. - Runners can do this trek without any specific training. - Take two trekking poles, they are really useful on the down hills. - The mozzies were not that bad for us, but deet is essential. - Treating your feet every night is important. Use any anti-septic lotions or powders. (Tea tree oil, bepantham, powder). - You can wear the same tshirt and pants every day. Wash them each night and dry them best you can. Even socks, I only had 2 pairs. - Split the medicine list with another trekker, everyone had way too much of the same thing. - The sterilising tablets are easy to use and good. Use them. - Take some Kina with you to buy things from the local villages - twisties and 7up! - Use the hand sanitiser gel before eating every single time. - You get get stronger after 2-3 days, so dont quit if the early days hurt you.

36 hours till fly out. Gear prep underway...

There has been many discussions during training session about kit and equipment. What socks, how many socks, tight laces or loose, long sleeves or short, hat or visor...? I guess we will soon find out. 12km run at lunch time today. Felt pretty weak, dunno why, I had a very good sleep last night and breakfast this morning.

On saturday we hiked hard. It was a great session on a great track. We got there on time, we started on time, everyone showed up on time, we were making good time (do you get the sense that I am temporally sensitive?).

Kokoda is Go!

In April 2015 we are doing the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea.  We is Darryl Ormston, Damian Ormston, myself and Craig, but unfortunately had to pull out due to his current job situation.  The Ormo boys have a grandfather that actually fought on the track, which is very cool.  It is also the centennary of the Gallipolli commemorations and so it will be very good to be involved with Kokoda this year, over the Anzac period.

It has long been an ambition to do the Kokoda Trail/Track for many of us.  Most Australian's know of the decisive battles that were fought there in telling conditions by the Aussie Reserve forces before being relives by the AIF.

It is a 96km Trail from Port Morseby (the capital) to a bush town called Kokoda on the north side of the island over the Owen Stanley Range.

It is currently 7 weeks and 2 days before we go.  There is a lot to do.  Final payments have just been made.  

My fitness level is ok.  I am confident I could do the trek now, but it would probably be very very hard.  I want to get much stronger, and a little lighter.  I am currently 93kg, and while I would prefer to be 83kg, I would settle for a few kegs off before bullying off for the final chucka.  Most importantly though, I have to get the legs used to the terrain, and walking instead of the Hendry-shuffle.  Aldo carrying a pack.

The Oz Gov smart traveller site says PNG is pretty safe, I personally am more worried about the small planes and bush landing strips.

I have trained at Mt Coot-tha about 5 times so far over the last 2 months, and I admit my fitness preparation is starting a little late.  Its about 5000m of ascend over the whole 96km trip, which is a lot.  We start at 500m at Port Morseby and climb to the top of Mt Bellamy which is at ~2100m.  So even though we only gain 1600m, to do it we have to go up and down enough times on the way to total 5000m upwards.  This excellent site says a lot about kokoda, the history, and the topography.